Fuel imports to cost US$6 billion by year-end – President

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said fuel imports would cost US$6 billion by the end of this year due to rising fuel prices on the global market.He made these remarks while attending the 100th Annual Conference of the Government Surveyors’ Association at the Waters Edge Hotel in Battaramulla yesterday morning (23).“ The conflict in the Middle East has exposed us to an unexpected impact. Last year, we spent US$4 billion on oil imports, and by the end of August this year, we had already spent US$4 billion. Since US$4 billion was spent in just two-thirds of the year, the total could exceed US$6 billion by the end of the year. Therefore, managing the pressure on foreign exchange is the main challenge we face.”